Door latch



Nov. 16, 1954 c. o. GOSERUD DOOR LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1951 so CHESTER O. GOSERUD ATTORNEYS Nov. 16, 1 4 c. o. GOSERUD 2,694,590

DOOR LATCH Filed D60 26 1951 2 Sheets-Shee i. 2

ZZWMZ D AORNEYS United States Patent DOOR LATCH Chester 0. Goserud, St. Paul, Minn.

Application December 26, 1951, Serial No. 263,146

7 Claims. (Cl. 292-66) The herein disclosed invention relates to door latches and particularly to latches for use with inside or outside doors.

An object of the invention resides in providing a latch which will be easy and simple to operate.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a latch in which the parts are smoothly brought into engagement or disengaged from one another.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a housing attached to the door and having a U-shaped operating lever pivoted thereto, and in further providing a latching lever pivotally and slidably supported by said operating lever and having a latch lug pivoted thereto.

A still further object of the invention resides in pro.- viding said latching lever with a latching arm to which said latch lug is pivoted and with an actuating arm and in providing said latching lever with a fulcrum slidably and pivotally engaging a part of the operating lever.

An object of the invention resides in providing a slide fixed relative to the housing and engaged by a slider on said actuating arm and in further providing resilient means reacting against said housing and urging said latch lug outwardly, said latching lever floating with reference to said operating lever.

Another object of the invention resides in providing an abutment on said housing and in providing a stop on said latch lug engageable with said abutment for holding the latch lug in door closing position.

An object of the invention resides in constructing said operating lever U-shaped in form with spaced legs and a connecting portion therebetween and in pivoting said lever to said housing by means of a pin having an axis parallel to the plane of the door and extending through said connecting portion, and in further providing a channel in said operating lever in which said latch lever is disposed and forming a web with spaced flanges issuing therefrom and straddling said latching lever.

A still further object of the invention resides in forming the web of said channel with a bearing surface on which the fulcrum of the latching lever engages.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a locking means engaging one of the legs of said lever and restraining movement thereof.

A feature of the invention resides in constructing the latch lug with a stop engaging the pin for pivoting said operating lever and in further constructing said latch lug with a surface receding from said stop and serving to direct said stop against said pin when the latch lug is released.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel com-- bination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan sectional view taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 3 of a portion of a door and door frame with the door shown in closed position and illustrating an embodiment of the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and illustrating the parts in altered position.

Fig. 3 is an elevational sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

- housing attached to the door and having a pin on which is mounted for pivotal movement a U-shaped operated lever having legs straddling the door and movable toward and from the door, and a connecting portion extending through the housing and through which the pin extends.

' The operating lever is formed with a channel in which is received an angularly shaped latching lever having an actuating arm and a latching arm connected thereto. Pivoted to the outer end of the latching arm by means of a pin whose axis is parallel with the axis of the operating lever pin is a latch lug projecting through the housing and engageable with a latching plate secured to the door frame. The latching lever has a fulcrum formed thereon and disposed between said arms and which engages a bearing surface on the web of the operating lever. The free end of the actuating lever is formed with a slider for engagement with a plate fixed relative to the housing and forming a slide along which said slider slides. A compression coil spring is seated at one end against the housing and at its other end against the latch lug and urges the latch lug outwardly through a hole in the housing and into engagement with a latching surface formed on the latching plate. A stop formed on said latch lug engages the pin on which the operating lever is mounted and serves to restrain movement of the latch lug out of engagement with the latching surface of said latching plate when pressure is applied to the door independently of said operating lever. A cam surface formed on said latch lug and disposed adjacent said stop serves to direct the stop against said pin when the latch lug clears the latching surface of the latching plate. On the housing is a finger projecting outwardly therefrom and passing through a slot in one of the legs of the operating lever. This finger is formed with a hook adapted to engage a key on said leg movable 'into the path of movement of said hook. This construction prevents operation of the latch.

In the drawings a portion of a door 10 has been shown which is the portion opposite from the edge of the door to which the hinges are applied. The door 10 is hung in a door frame 11 which has a vertical frame member 12 with a casing 13 applied thereto.

The frame member 12 is formed with a rabbet 14 in which the door is received. The door is hung by means of hinges to the other vertical door frame member in the customary manner.

" at the edge of the door flush with the surface 19. Issuing outwardly from the plate 17 is a flange 22 which is also offset as designated at 23. The plate 16 is constructed with a flange 24 which overlies the offset 23. The offset 23 has a hole 25 in it facing the vertical member 12 of casing 11. At the lower end of hole 25 is an inturned lip 32 which serves a purpose to be subsequently explained. The two plates 16 and 17 are attached to the door 10 by means of screws 27 which have heads 28 received in countersinks 29 formed in the plates 16 and 17. It will be noted that the plates 16 and 17 are formed with inturned lips 30 which bring the outer surfaces of said plates outwardly from the surfaces 18 and 19 of the door proper and switch stiffen and reinforce said plates.

-'To compensate for the lips 30 pads 31 in the form of washers are attached to the plate 16 at the locality of the countersinks 29. A similar construction is used for plate 17 which will be presently described. It will readily be comprehended that the housing 15 may be applied to doors of varying thickness, the flanges 22 and 24 sliding relative to one another to accommodate such variation in thickness.

For the purpose of operating the latch, an operating lever 33 is employed which is U-shaped in form and which has spaced legs 34 and 35 with a connecting portion 36 therebetween. The connecting portion 36 extends through holes 37 and 38' in the plates 16 and 17 respectively while the legs 34 and 35 straddle the door proper. The lever 33 is pivoted to a frame 39 attached to the housing 15. This frame is U-shaped in form having a back 40 with sides 41 and 42 issuing outwardly from said back. The

through the opening 38'and abuts the plate 17' at the end' of said opening. The sides 41 and 42 are similarly constructed'with tongues 46 which extend through the opening 26 in offset 23 and engage the upper and lower edges thereof. By means of this construction the frame is rigidly mounted with reference to the housing 15. plication of the latch to the door a square notch 47 is cut into the door and of sufficient size to receive the frame 39 The operating lever 33 isconstructed with a channel 49 in the same and which forms in the legs 34 and 35 and in the connecting portion 36 flanges 50 with a web 51 therebetween. This construction may be formed from sheet metal by bending the lever from a single sheet of material or it may be cast or formed in any other manner. The lever 33 is pivoted to the frame 39 by means of apin 52 which extends jointly through the flanges 50 of the lever 33 and through the sides 41 and 42 of the frame 39 as best shown in Fig. 3. This pin'is preferably headed over to hold the same attached to the frame and prevent accidental displacement thereof; Attached to the outer ends of the legs34 and 35 of lever 33 are knobs 53 and 54 which are in the form of discs having substantially fiat outer surfaces 55 and curved inner surfaces 56. The web 51 of the lever 33 overlies the backs of theseknobs and screws 48 extending through said webs andscrewed into the knobs hold the knobs attached to the legs 34 and 35. In addition, dowel pins 57 driven into said knobs and extending through said webs prevent rotation of the knobs. By means of said knobs the lever 33 can be manipulated on the interior of the building in which the door is installed by pushing on the knob 54 and on the exterior by grasping the knob 53 and drawing the same outwardly.

Mounted within the channel 49 of lever 33 is a latching lever 58. This lever has a latching arm 59 and an actuating arm 60. These arms are angularly disposed relative to one another and the juncture between said arms forms a fulcrum indicated by the reference numeral 61 which is adapted to engage the inner surface 62 of web 51 of said lever 33. This surface forms a bearing along which the fulcrum 61 may slide and also with respect to which the same may rock as if pivoted to said lever 33. The arm 60 has an end 63 which serves as a slider engageable with the outer surface 64 of plate 17 and which serves as a slide for cooperation with said slider.

The outer end of the arm 59 of lever 58 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 65 and which forms on said arms spaced leaves 66 and 67. A latch lug 68 is pivotally attached to the arm 59. For this purpose the latch lug is constructed with a shank 69 which is of a lesser. thickness than the lug proper and which is received in the slot,

65 and between the leaves 66 and 67. A pin 70 extends through said leaves and shank and pivots the. latchlug for swinging movement relative to lever 58. The shank 69 forms in conjunction with the lug proper shoulders 71- which are adapted to engage the edges 72 of the leaves 66 and 67 and to limit swinging movement of the latch lug 68 in both directions and from the position shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 2. The shank 69 is formed at the end of the same with a stop 73 which engages the pin 52. This pin serves as an abutment and restrains swinging movement of the latch lug 68. The latch lug 68 is urged outwardly through the hole 25 in housing 15 by means of a compression coil spring 75. This spring engages a stud 76 formed on the back 40 of frame 39 and also a stud 77 on the shank 69 of latch lug 68. This spring urges the latch lug outwardly and swings the lever 58 to the position shown in Fig. 1 with the portions 78 of edges 72 engaging the shoulders 71. In such position the fulcrum 61 is in engagement with bearing 62, the slider 63 is in engagement with surface 64 of side plate 17aud the stop 73 is in engagement with the pin 52. For

In the apenter when the same is in closing position.

cooperation with the latch lug 68 a latch plate 80 is employed' which'is attached to the vertical frame member 12 of frame 11 within the rabbet 14. This latch plate has a hole 81 in the same which forms on said latch plate a latching surface 82. This surface is adapted to cooperate with a corresponding latching surface 83 on the latch lug 68. In back of the hole 81 and in frame member 12 is formed a cavity 84in which the latch lug may The said latching plate is formed with a striking surface 85 at the outer portion of the same and which is adapted to be engaged by a corresponding striking surface 86 on the latch lug 68 when the same is being moved into closing position. A cam 87 on the shank 69 fares into the stop 73 and serves to direct the latch lug 68 from a position in which pin 52 is adjacent the latching surface 83 to a position in which said pin is opposite the stop 73 when the latch lug is moved from the position shown in Fig. 2

5 to that shown in Fig. l.

For the' purpose of locking the door and preventing disengagement of the latch lug 68 from the latching plate 80, the following; construction is employed: Formed on the back 40 of frame 39 is an inwardly turned flange 88'. This flange has attached to it a finger 89 by means of rivets 90. The said finger extends through a slot 98 in side plate 16 andalso through a hole 91 in the leg 34 of the free. end of. the same by means of which said key may bemanuipulated and the end of the finger 89 is formed with a hook. 96 which is adapted to hook over the portions 97 of the key 93 at the sides of the slot 92. To receive the shank of hook 96, slot 92 is formed with an enlargement 99. When the key 93 is swung laterally the hook 96 is. brought into engageemnt with one of'the parts 97 and'movement of the leg 34 of lever 33 in an outward direction is prevented;

The operation of the invention is as follows: When the door is closed and the latch is in latching position the parts are disposed as shown in Fig. 1. In closed position the latching surface 83 of the latch lug 68 is in engagement with the latching surface 82 of the latch plate 80; At the same time stop- 73 is opposite the pin 52 and lip 32 is. opposite the flat part of surface 86. As soon as thedoor moves outwardly pressure is exerted on latch lug 68 by means of surface 82 of latch plate 80. The lip 32 lying between the surface 82 and pin 52, said lip serves, as-a fulcrum and surface 82 tends to rotate the latch lug about lip 32 in a clockwise direction. Suchrotation is immediately resisted by stop 73' engaging pin 52. The door would, hence, be held against accidental opening. To open the door the knob 53 attached to arm 34 may be pulled outwardly by inserting the fingers in back of the same and engaging the surface 56 thereof. Or, if desired, pressure may be applied to the surface 55 of. the knob 54 applied to leg 35 of lever 33. Such movement causes the lever 33 to swing in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 2. During such movement the slider 63 slides along the surface 64 of plate 17 and the fulcrum 61 slides and rocks on the bearing 62 of leg 35 of lever 33. This causes the lever 58 to move from a position such as shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 2 and to withdraw the latch lug 68 inwardly through the opening. 26 and slot 25 and out. of engagement with the latching surface 82 of latch plate 80. As the lever 33 starts to move toward the position shown in Fig. 2, the end 63 of arm 60 of lever 58 slides inwardly along surface 64 and disengages stop 73 from pin 52 permitting the lug.68 to pivot on. pin 70 to the position shown in Fig. 2 with shoulder 71 in engagement with edges 72 of arm 59. Further pressure on the door causes the latch plate 80 to engage the surface 83 of latch lug 68 and to further force the same and lever 58 inwardly against the action of spring 75 until said latch lug clears the surface 82 and rides on the surface 85; As noted, the extreme end of the surface 83 is curved so that the latch lug is easily withdrawn and so that the door moves freely outwardly during retraction of the latch lug. When the tip of the latch lug clears the plate 80, the latch lug follows along the face of the latch. plate 80 until the door swings clear of the frame. Upon release of the lever 33 the parts again assume the position shown in Fig. 1. In closing the door, the same may be closed by exerting pressure on the face of the knob 53 attached to arm 34 of lever 33 or by grasping the knob 54 on arm 35 of said lever and drawing the same inwardly. Such movement brings the striking surface 86 of latch lug 68 into engagement with the striking surface 85 of plate 80. Latch lug 68 may now slide inwardly into the housing 15 through the slot 25 and hole 26. The cam surface 87 now follows along the surface of pin 52 and the latch lug moves independently of the lever 33 but with the shoulders 71 engaging the edges 78 of lever 58 as shown in Fig. 1. Thus the latch lug is brought opposite the hole 81 in the plate 80 and when the tip of the same clears the surface 82 the latch lug drops into said hole and maintains the door in latched position.

The advantages of the invention are manifest. The device is extremely simple in construction and can be fabricated at a nominal expense. The opening and closmg of the door is extremely smooth and at no position of the latch lug with reference to the latching plate is there a catch or irregularity in the movement of the lug. The results are superior to those procured with latches having a separate striking lug and at the same time eliminate the necessity for a separate striking lug. With the instant invention wear is greatly reduced and the parts will operate for an extended period of time wihout attention.

Changes in the specific form of the invention, as herein described, may be made Within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a door latch, a housing, an operating lever, pivot means acting between said housing and lever and guiding said lever for swinging movement relative to the housing, a latching lever carried by said operating lever and exending along the same, fulcrum means between said operating lever and said latching lever, said latching lever having a latching arm on one side of said fulcrum means and an actuating arm on the other side of said fulcrum means, a latch lug normally projecting outwardly of said housing, guide means fixed relative to said housing for supporting said latch lug for swinging and sliding movement, pivot means between said latch lug and the outer end of said latching arm, an abutment on said housing engaging a stop on the inner end of said latch lug to limit swinging movement of the latch lug about its pivot when the latch lug is in normal position, a slide fixed relative to said housing, contact means on the outer end of the actuating arm of said laching lever and engaging said slide and cooperating with said fulcrum means to swing said latching lever and retract said latch lug into said housing upon movement of said operating lever in one direction, and resilient means acting between said housing and a part movable with said latch lug and operating to urge said latch lug in the opposite direction and outwardly of said housing.

2. In a door latch, a housing for attachment to a door, an operating lever, U-shaped in form having spaced legs and a connecting portion therebetween, said connecting portion extending through said housing and said legs straddling the door, a pin extending through said connecting portion and being supported by said housing, the axis of said pin being substantially parallel to the plane of the door, said pin pivoting said lever for swinging movement to cause said legs to move toward and from the door, a latching lever carried by said operating lever and having an actuating arm and a latching arm, angularly disposed relative to one another, said latching arm being disposed adjacent said connecting portion of the operating lever and the actuating arm being disposed adjacent one of said legs, a fulcrum on said latching lever, situated between said arms, a bearing on said operating lever engaged by said fulcrum, a latch lug normally projecting outwardly of said housing, pivot means acting between the inner end of the latching arm of said actuating lever and the inner end of said latch lug to guide the latch lug for swinging movement, a stop on said latch lug engageable with said pin when the latch lug is in normal position, a slide fixed relative to said housing, contact means on the outer end of the actuating arm of said latching lever and engaging said slide and resilient means engaging a part fixed relative to said housing and urging said latch lug outwardly.

3. In a door latch, a housing for attachment to a door, an operating lever, U-shaped in form having spaced legs and a connecting portion therebetween, said connecting portion extending through said housing and said legs straddling the door, a pin extending through said connecting portion and being supported by said housing, the

axis of said pin being substantially parallel to the plane of the door, said pin pivoting said lever for swinging movement to cause said legs to move toward and from the door, a latching lever carried by said operating lever and having an actuating arm and a latching arm, angularly disposed relative to one another, said latching arm being disposed adjacent said connecting portion of the operating lever and the actuating arm being disposed adjacent one of said legs, a fulcrum on said latching lever, situated between said arms and guiding said latching lever for swinging and sliding movement, a bearing on said operating lever engaged by said fulcrum, a latch lug normally projecting outwardly of said housing, pivot means acting between the inner end of the latching arm of said actuating lever and the inner end of said latch lug to guide the latch lug for swinging movement, a stop on said latch lug engageable with said pin when the latch lug is in nomal position, a slide fixed relative to said housing contact means on the outer end of the actuating arm of said latching lever and engaging said slide and resilient means engaging a part fixed relative to said housing and urging said latch lug outwardly.

4. In a door latch, a housing for attachment to a door, an operating lever, U-shaped in form having spaced legs and a connecting portion therebetween, said connecting portion extending through said housing and said legs straddling the door, a pin extending through said connecting portion and being supported by said housing, the axis of said pin being substantially parallel to the plane of the door, said pin pivoting said lever for swinging movement to cause said legs to move toward and from the door, said operating lever being constructed with spaced flanges and a web therebetween and forming an open channel extending along one of said legs and said connecting portion, a latching lever disposed within said channel and having an actuating arm and a latching arm, angularly disposed relative to one another, said latching arm being disposed adjacent said connecting portion of the operating lever and the actuating arm being disposed adjacent one of said legs, a fulcrum on said latching lever, situated between said arms, the inner surface of the web of said operating lever forming a bearing for engagement with said fulcrum and forming a sliding and swinging joint therebetween, a latch lug normally projecting outwardly of said housing, pivot means acting between the inner end of the latching arm of said actuating lever and the inner end of said latch lug to guide the latch lug for swinging movement, a stop on said latch lug engaging said pin when the latch lug is in normal position, a slide fixed relative to said housing contact means on the outer end of the actuating arm of said latching lever and engaging said slide and resilient means engaging a part fixed relative to said housing and urging said latch lug outwardly.

5. In a door latch, a housing for attachment to a door, an operating lever, U-shaped in form having spaced legs and a connecting portion therebetween, said connecting portion extending through said housing and said legs straddling the door, a pin extending through said connecting portion and being supported by said housing, the axis of said pin being substantially parallel to the plane of the door, said pin pivoting said lever for swinging movement to cause said legs to move toward and from the door, a latching lever carried by said operating lever and having an actuating arm and a latching arm, angularly disposed relative to one another, said latching arm being disposed adjacent said connecting portion of the operating lever and the actuating arm being disposed adjacent one of said legs, a fulcrum on said latching lever, situated between said arms, a bearing on said operating lever engaged by said fulcrum, a latch lug normally projecting outwardly of said housing, pivot means acting between the inner end of the latching arm of said actuating lever and the inner end of said latch lug to guide the latch lug for swinging movement, a stop on said latch lug engaging said pin when the latch lug is in normal position, said latch lug having an arcuate surface receding from said stop and clearing said pin as the latch lug is moved inwardly to accommodate swinging of the latch lug said surface sewing to shift the stop on the latch lug opposite said pin when the latch lug is moved in the opposite direction, a slide fixed relative to said housing, contact means on the outer end of the actuating arm of said latching lever and engaging said slide and resilient means engaging said housing and urging said latch lug outwardly.

6. In a door latch, a housing for attachment to a door, an operating lever, U-shaped in form having spaced legs and a connecting portion therebetween, said connecting portion extending through said housing and said legs straddling the door, a pin extending through said connecting portion and being supported by said housing, the axis of said pin being substantially parallel to the plane of the door, said pin pivoting said lever for swinging movement to cause said legs to move toward and from the door, a latching lever carried by said operating lever and having an actuating arm and a latching arm, angularly disposed relative to one another, said latching arm being disposed adjacent said connecting portion of the operating lever and the actuating arm being disposed adjacent one of said legs, a fulcrum on said latching lever, situated between said arms, a bearing on said operating lever engaged by said fulcrum, a latch lug normally projecting outwardly of said housing, pivot means acting between the inner end of the latching arm of said actuating lever and the inner end of said latch lug to guide the latch lug for swinging movement, the axis of said pivot means being substantially parallel to the plane of the door and being disposed outwardly of a plane passing through the axis of said pin and at right angle to the plane of the door when the latch lug is in normal position, a stop on said latch lug engaging said pin when the latching surface of said latch lug is in engagement with the latching surface of said plate, a slide fixed relative to said housing, contact means on the outer end of the actuating arm of said latching lever and engaging said slide and resilient means engaging a part fixed relative to said housing and urging said latch lug outwardly.

7. In a door latch, a housing for attachment to a door, an operating lever, U-shaped in form having spaced legs and a connecting portion therebetween, said connecting portion extending through said housing and said legs straddling the door, a pin extending through said connecting portion and being supported by said housing, the axis of said pin being substantially parallel to the plane of the door, said pin pivoting said lever for swinging movement to cause said legs to move toward and from the door, a latching lever carried by said operating lever and having an actuating arm and a latching arm, angularly disposed relative to one another, said latching arm being disposed adjacent said connecting portion of the operating lever and the actuating arm being disposed adjacent one of said legs, a latch lug normally projecting outwardly of said housing, pivot means between said latch lug and the latching arm of said latching lever, resilient means reacting against a part fixed relative to said housing and urging said latch lug outwardly, a slide fixed relative to the housing and having a surface substantially parallel to the plane of the door, said latching lever contacting said operating lever at a locality between said arms and said actuating arm contacting said slide whereby said latching lever floats relative to said operating lever and whereby movement of said operating lever causes swinging and sliding movement of said latching lever and inward and outward movement of said latch lug.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

